Pianissimo device for pianos



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. W. COOPER.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

Patented July 26,1887.

N. PUERS, PhnioLilhngflpher, Washington, D. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. W. COOPER. PIANISSIMO DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

a. m Q w H m 0 m W m w 8 N. PETERS Phnio-Lifimgl qphen Washington. D. c.

UNITED STAT s PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNVV. COOPER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.-

PIANISSIMO DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLietters Patent No. 367,272, dated July 26, 1887.

l Application filed December 8 18:6. Serial No.2i0,904. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianos; and I do de'.

clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such-as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apconsequentforce of blow upon the strings by a movable hammer-supporting rail connected with the pedal. The adjustment of the hammer-supporting rail, especially by the application of the soft pedal, which brings the hammers nearer to the strings, carries the hammer-butts a greater or less distance away from the operating-jacks, which while traversing this distance offer no resistance to'the touch. This objection has been overcome heretofore in many ways, the most noticeable being compensating weights, which have been more or less effective. The chief objection against such devices has been the great increase in cost of manufacture. j

The object of the present improvement is to preserve an even and uniform touch at any and all adjustments of the hammer-supporting rail, and to devise a simple, efficient, and economical construction for simultaneously moving the operating-jacks and hammersupporting rail for keeping the ends of the jacks at all times in contact with the hammer-butts, so that there can possibly be no lost motion.

The invention consists in the novel features presently to be described and shown in the annexed drawings, in which-- Figure l is aside View of a piano action embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the position of the parts when the soft pedal is applied. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section, of the devices for moving the sticker when the hammer-supporting rail is adjusted. Fig. 4 is a detail View of a portion of a piano-action specially adapted to carry out my invention.

The supporting-frame and action are of usual construction, and comprise. the supportingrail A, the hammensupporting rail B, the hammer O,the check D, the bridle and bridle-support E and E, the tilting-lever F, the jack G, the escapement H, the damper I, the key J, the key-frame .l', the key-bed J, and the pedalrod 0. The lower end of the sticker L rests upon the lifter M, pivoted at its forward end to the rear end of the key, and isguided in its movements by the link I. The litter is divided by the kerf m into two parts, m 912*, which are separated by the setscrew m front end of the part m is pivoted to the projection m, and the sticker rests upon the part m, which is adjusted by the set-screw an -to take up any wear or shrinkage or for regulating the position of the jack, whereby its end can be'brought up close under the hammerbutt.

touch-regulating lever N, hinged at its rear end to the key-bed and having the forward end vertically apertured to permit the passage of the pedal-rod O, which has a stop or shoulder, 0, to engage with and raise the lever when the pedal-rod is moved up.

In practice, as there is only one touch-regulating lever and a number of keys each hav ing a lifter, a rail, P, secured to the lever N, is provided, which extends beneath the series of lifters and is strengthened and prevented from warping by the angle-iron p.

When it is desired to modulate the tone, the hammensupporting rail is moved closer to the The The rear end of the lifter, projecting be-' yond the key, is adapted to be engaged by the strings by the upward motion of the pedalplaying at full tone and the pedal-rod down, the lifter will be bodily moved on actuating the key, as shown in Fig. 3.

The action shown in Fig. l is of ordinary construction, and is not well adapted to carry out the spirit of my invention, in that when the soft pedal is applied the tiltinglever is turned about its pivot, bringing the damperspoon fin contact with the damper, which is thrown away from thestrings. To obviate this difliculty, I have devised the construction shown in Fig. 4, in which the whip Q is interposed between the jack Gandthe tilting-lever F, and the sticker L passes loosely through the end of the tilting-lever F and connects with the whip. Thus when the pedal-rod is actuated the jacks will be correspondingly adjusted, so that the ends will be held close against the hammer-butt without moving the tilting-lever F. By this construction the damper will rest against the string till the key is operated, which will bring a stop or shoulder, Z, on the sticker in engagement with the tilting-lever F and momentarily throw the damper away from the string, aswill be readily comprehended.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to adjust the hammers nearer to the strings, and at the same time adjust the jacks to keep their ends in contact with the hammer-butts for preventing lost motion, and do not claim such, broadly, as my invention, which differs essentially therefrom, as specifically recited in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 18-

1. The combination, with the adjustable 11ammer-supporting rail, the hammer, the 0p the lifter for moving the jack simultaneously with the adjustment of said pedal-rod, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the adjustable hammer, the operating-jack, the pedal-rod, the litter, the key, and the touch-regulating lever intermediate the pedal-rod and the lifter, sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a piano-action, the combination of the pedalrod, the sticker, the key, the lifter pivotally connected at its forward end with the key, and the touclrregulating lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

L. The combination of the ham mer-snpporting rail, the hammers, the operating-jack, the tilting-lever, the sticker, the key, the divided litter, the set-screw, the key, the touch-regulating lever hinged to the key-bed, and the pedal-rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a piano-action, the combination of the tilting-lever, the adjustable sticker passing loosely through the end of said lever and having a stop to engage therewith when actuated by the key, the whip, and the jack carried by the whip, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN IV. COOPER.

\Vitnesses:

XV. HnLMiok, O. B. CAYWOOD. 

